U.S. Naturalization Data

Nearly 1 million N-400 applications for U.S. citizenship are pending as of June 2025. Naturalization is the final step in the journey from immigrant to citizen — and the backlog means hundreds of thousands are waiting months or years for that step.

998,700

Pending N-400 Applications

6-12 mo

Typical Processing Time

171

USCIS Field Offices

The Path to Citizenship

Naturalization requires permanent residency (green card) for at least 5 years (3 if married to a U.S. citizen), continuous physical presence, good moral character, and passing English and civics tests.

The Application Process

File N-400

Submit application with $725 fee (or fee waiver)

Biometrics

Fingerprints and background check at USCIS office

Interview

In-person civics & English tests + case review

Oath

Take the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony

The Backlog Problem

With 998,700 pending applications, naturalization has the largest single-form backlog in the USCIS system. This means eligible permanent residents — many of whom have lived in the U.S. for decades — are waiting 6-18 months to become citizens. In some offices, waits exceed 2 years.

The consequences are real: pending applicants can't vote, can't run for office, face restrictions on government employment, and can still be placed in removal proceedings if they commit certain offenses.

Why It Matters for Courts

Naturalization and immigration courts are connected: citizens can't be deported. Every person who naturalizes is permanently removed from the deportation pipeline. The naturalization backlog means hundreds of thousands of people who could be citizens remain in a more precarious legal status — green card holders who can still lose their status for certain criminal convictions.

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The Civics Test

Applicants must answer 6 out of 10 civics questions correctly (from a pool of 100). Questions cover American history, government structure, and civic principles. The pass rate exceeds 90% — the English language requirement is a bigger barrier for many applicants.

Why This Data Matters

Nearly 1 million people are waiting to become U.S. citizens. These are permanent residents who have met the residency requirements, passed background checks, and filed their applications — they're simply waiting for USCIS to process them. During that wait, they cannot vote, face restrictions on government employment, and remain vulnerable to deportation if they commit certain offenses.

The naturalization backlog has real democratic consequences. In election years, processing delays can prevent hundreds of thousands of eligible people from voting. Studies show that naturalized citizens are among the most engaged voters, so delays in processing directly affect civic participation and political representation in immigrant communities.

For the immigration court system, naturalization is the ultimate exit: citizens cannot be deported. Every person who naturalizes is permanently removed from the deportation pipeline. The backlog means hundreds of thousands remain in a more precarious legal status longer than necessary — green card holders who could be citizens but are stuck waiting.